How should students prepare for FCAT?

The FCAT season begins Tuesday with the annual writing test for fourth, eighth and tenth graders. The passing score for purposes of school grading is back up to 3.5, the added emphasis on grammar and spelling alongside the style and content remains, and the time to test has been extended after students complained they barely had time to write a draft.

All that's left is to take the test.

But does that mean that kids need to put their lives on hold until it's over?

The schools and state, which place a lot of importance on the FCAT, are suggesting that students get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast and the other things they associate with final preparations. (They don't have any more days left to squeeze just one last writing sample out of their classes, after all.)

Some coaches within the community are taking that message to imply that Monday evening practices be canceled or cut short, so the focus remains on being ready for the test so many teachers have drilled students on for several months already. What do you think? Should FCAT test takers scale back their daily lives this evening for the sake of their potential results? Is there anything else kids should do (or not do) with the FCAT on their doorstep?

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.